Reeling: The Chicago LGBT International Film Festival runs Friday through Thursday, November 8 through 14, at Chicago Filmmakers, 5243 N. Clark; Logan, 2646 N. Milwaukee; Music Box, 3733 N. Southport; Northwestern Univ. Block Museum of Art, 40 Arts Circle Dr., Evanston; and smaller venues around town. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are $12; passes are $50 (five screenings), $80 (ten screenings), $125 (all screenings excluding special events), and $175 (all screenings and events). For more information call 773-293-1447 or visit reelingfilmfestival.org. Reviews of selected films follow.
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Before You Know It With this documentary about three elderly gay men, director P.J. Raval aims to illustrate the struggles of LBGT seniors, but their assorted hardships—loneliness, waning health, financial problems—aren’t exactly exclusive to the gay community, so the sociopolitical harangue, however well-intentioned, doesn’t really hold water. The film succeeds mainly as portraiture, particularly when Raval focuses on the octogenarian Dennis. Broken by his decades in the closet, he openly contemplates suicide, his anguish and regret receding only when he’s dressed as his female alter ego, Dee. His story, not uncommon among gay people his age, is devastating and beautiful, and more worthy of its screen time than Raval’s politics are. —Drew Hunt 110 min. Sat 11/9, 2:30 PM, Northwestern Univ. Block Museum of Art, $9
G.B.F. A high school’s first openly homosexual student (Michael J. Willett) becomes a status symbol for three social butterflies (Andrea Bowen, Sasha Pieterse, Xosha Roquemore) seeking their own Gay Best Friend. Screenwriter George Northy seems to be aiming for a satire of teen society a la Mean Girls (directly referenced more than once), yet the main character is forced into so many LGBT stereotypes that the movie comes off as borderline offensive. A few sweet moments highlight the importance of acceptance and being yourself, but these after-school-special interludes clash with the snarky tone. Darren Stein directed, and Megan Mullally and Natasha Lyonne appear all too briefly as dysfunctional adults. —Brianna Wellen 92 min. Bowen and other cast members attend the screening, part of the opening-night program; tickets are $15, $40 with an afterparty. Thu 11/7, 7:30 PM, Music Box, $15 or
